Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich was recently commissioned to write a major work for Ashu (alto saxophone) with string quartet. It is approximately 17 minutes in duration. It was co-commissioned by the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, Fontana Chamber Arts, Chamber Music Society of Detroit, and Michigan State University.

The first performance will take place on January 16 with Ashu and the Chicago Chamber Musicians in Tucson, Arizona. The concert is to also feature the Mozart Flute Quartet (with flutist Mathieu Dufour) and Brahms Clarinet Quintet (with clarinetist Larry Combs). Further information can be found at www.arizonachambermusic.org.